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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2572 KP) rated Kaleidoscope in Books

May 11, 2024 (Updated May 11, 2024)  
Kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope
Dorothy Gilman | 2002 | Mystery
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Once Again, a Kaleidoscope of Stories Lacking Focus
As with the first book featuring Madame Karitska, we get several stories that weave in and out of each other. Sometimes, they touch. Sometimes they only take up a chapter. Madame Karitska winds up in the possession of some diamonds when she runs into an old friend on a train. She helps a wife whose husband is interested in a nearby commune. A man who is deathly ill comes to her for help. She even helps a government official who is afraid some home grown terrorists might be at work.

Fans of the first book will be happy to hear that the format of the plot didn’t change much. Sadly, for me, that means it didn’t work as well as I would have liked. The way the stories wander around and in and out of each other without any clear beginning or climax frustrates me. One of them ends very anticlimactically. On the other hand, I do enjoy the charming characters and I liked spending time with them again. As with the author’s Mrs. Pollifax series, the characters haven’t really aged even thought it was roundly 25 years between books and both take place in their present. As a fan of the author, I’m not sorry I read this book, but I won’t be reading this series again any time soon.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2572 KP) rated Murder on Mistletoe Lane in Books

Dec 19, 2023 (Updated Dec 19, 2023)  
Murder on Mistletoe Lane
Murder on Mistletoe Lane
Clara McKenna | 2023 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Stella and Lyndy’s First Christmas Together Involves Murder
It’s late December 1905, and Stella and Lyndy are excited to spend their first Christmas together. Stella is a little confused by the house guests her in-laws have invited and the tension just below the surface their presence creates. But when a servant is killed, run down on the side of the road, she can’t help but investigate. Can she figure out what happened?

This is another strong entry in the series. I was glad that Stella and Lyndy were home since it meant that the supporting characters were back. I loved watching those relationships and characters grow more complex yet again here. There is a lot happening in this book, and the plots weave in and out of each other before reaching the logical climax. I did have a niggle with the climax, but it was a small one. The tone is a little somber, but it is in keeping with the rest of the series. On the other hand, all the scenes involving Christmas put me in the Christmas spirit, even if not everything was familiar. As always, the multiple view points of the narration were put to fantastic use. Those who enjoy historical mysteries will be glad they picked this one up.